devotional post # 2127

Hosea 10:1-4

Hos 10:1 Israel is a growing climbing vine that produces fruit for him. The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built; as his country improved, he improved his memorial stones.
Hos 10:2 Their heart is false; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars and destroy their memorial stones.
Hos 10:3 Because now they will say: “We have no king, because we do not fear Yahveh; and a king– what could he do for us?”
Hos 10:4 They utter only words; with empty oaths they make covenants; so judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.

weeds that choke the vine

Hosea uses the word Israel here for the land, and is still talking about Ephraim as the people. They have used the growing climbing vine to improve the country economically, but they have responded to this blessing by making their nation more idolatrous. So, God will send weeds to choke the vine. Such is the case for anyone who responds to God’s blessings by turning them against him.

LORD, thank you for your blessings. Show us how to respond with gratitude, not to do our own thing with them.